The Official *England to Grand Slam Glory 2013* Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

“It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required.”
Winston Churchill

In just over 4 weeks, Stuart Lancaster's England will start their quest for Grand Slam glory. It has to be said that this is England's best chance since 2003 for a Grand Slam. Really, for the Northern Hemisphere's biggest Rugby nation not to have clinched a Grand Slam for 10 years is a poor return. That will surely change on the 16th March.

“My tastes are simple: I am easily satisfied with the best.”
Winston Churchill

This amount of optimism stems from a hugely encouraging 2012 for the English rugby team. 4 wins out of 5 in last year's Six Nations with a fairly new team, then a character-building tour to South Africa, running South Africa and Australia close at the home of Rugby, before ending the year by beating the World Champions and running in 3 tries against them. 2013 will be the year that it all comes together for England.

"The English have an extraordinary ability for flying into a great calm."
Alexander Woollcott

2013 for England will start with a game home to Scotland. Unless there's a downpour, Scotland have little hope. Expect England to rack up 25+ points and a multitude of tries against inferior opposition.

"Let not England forget her precedence of teaching nations how to live."
John Milton

Then, away to Ireland. Often, the Irish are seen as a bogey team for England but let's be rational. England are better in every department as they proved in 2012. I'll be looking for a very very good result from England in this game.

"You must hate a Frenchman as you do the devil."
Lord Nelson

The third game will be the biggest of the lot. Home to the French at Twickenham. Beaten by England in Paris in 2012, France will be beaten by England in London in 2013. No mistake though, this game will be the toughest challenge that England will face in the 2013 Six Nations. I expect England to just about edge out the French.

"We few. We happy few. We band of brothers."
William Shakespeare

On the 10th March, England will be on the home straight. Home to Italy, mere cannon fodder against the mighty mighty England. 4 wins out of 4, Grand Slam in sight.

"Ever the faith endures, England, my England."
W.E. Henley

The crowning glory will be against England's little brother, Wales. No doubt they'll be up for this game, they love a game against their bigger brother and the chance to upset the odds. What is it Wales, 7 losses out of 7 since last year's Grand Slam? After a tough 20 minutes, England's superiority and class will show. Grand Slam clinched.

“You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.”
Winston Churchill

[100%beefy]

1. SCW/Dayglo...both were bigging it up for 5 tries pre game then saying it was good prep after

2. Ignorance ibid

3. Not sensitive whatsoever, England's ignorance is illusrtaed y their denial to accept that they just made a boo boo

[mystiroakey]

Who hasn't accepted England messed up?

I can only honestly view your comment as the ignorant one tbh(that or your neing overly sensitive). Because you are clearly only looking at one part of the story

Personally I would never state that this is a good thing(well it is for the tourny but not for england in the short term)

However they are admitting a negative- yet taking a positive from it. Thats the attitude i was describing to you

[100%beefy]

How many times stroker?!!! SCW and Dayglo ok...got it?

There is only one view of today for England. It is a massive balls up.

I am not sure how poitning this out makes me ignorant or sensitive? And taking a pos out of a neg is SPIN ...got it now?

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

So what does the welsh treating a win for england as the best thing thats ever happened to them count as?

[mystiroakey]

How many times stroker?!!! SCW and Dayglo ok...got it?

There is only one view of today for England. It is a massive balls up.

I am not sure how poitning this out makes me ignorant or sensitive? And taking a pos out of a neg is SPIN ...got it now?

ok dude..

[100%beefy]

How many times stroker?!!! SCW and Dayglo ok...got it?

There is only one view of today for England. It is a massive balls up.

I am not sure how poitning this out makes me ignorant or sensitive? And taking a pos out of a neg is SPIN ...got it now?

ok dude..

that CBT working out for you strokey!!

[mystiroakey]

Its all about the

[mystiroakey]

Or repeat Goosefraber until the anger subsides..

[Duty281]

How many times stroker?!!! SCW and Dayglo ok...got it?

There is only one view of today for England. It is a massive balls up.

I am not sure how poitning this out makes me ignorant or sensitive? And taking a pos out of a neg is SPIN ...got it now?

Y-A-W-N. Get your own house in order first.

[100%beefy]

So what does the welsh treating a win for england as the best thing thats ever happened to them count as?

Yes Peter you are so right, it is Wales who are delusional!

[mystiroakey]

Well it's a good thing for all rugby fans. That's my only spin on this..and of course the classic cliche of 'learning by your own mistakes'

[Duty281]

So the day after England scraped past a dogged Italian team.

England live dangerously
Lancaster's Relief
England must raise game
England nearly pay for arrogance
England labour to win
Toby Flood kicks life into Grand Slam hopes

"We must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance the attributes of a victory."
Winston Churchill

[Duty281]

I've also just heard Morgan is ruled out of the Welsh game. Drat.

[Duty281]

Permutations for the Wales-England game on Saturday, courtesy of the BBC:

Spoiler:

We only need think about the first one!

"We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end."
Winston Churchill

[sirBiggles]

Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land hear the battle cry
Nothing else can be heard in the cold Cardiff sky
Good pass, fine kick, bring him to the ground
Loudly shout the English fans, while their players astound
Another score is what we need to seal the Welsh demise
Need to get just one more to make the crowd rise
Done it, there it is, a score that can’t be caught

And then the referee blows up to give the teams a break
Rest and physio is now what’s needed for those limbs that ache
England 20 Wales 6, is the first half score

Waaales, Waaales the second half cry booms
All the English sing Swing Low as their team can't lose
Now the hour has cometh, for the young Halfpenny
Keep it calm, keep your cool, just keep kicking penalties
England has no worries the ball is with our Farrel
Run pass, swerve, dive, there’s Cuthbert’s decisive score
Suddenly things look different to the games before

Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land the crowd chant to no avail
Not today, not this year, a clear 8 point win for Wales
Done it again this year and England's chariot up for Sale.

[Duty281]

Farrell poised to return, Lawes on the mend
England ready to pick Launchbury and Parling

All on the mend then, England rapidly approaching full strength for Saturday.

"He blew with His winds, and they were scattered."
Inscription on a medal after England defeated the Spanish Armada.

[GunsGerms]

All the ridiculous war references and quotes really do make it hard to not want Wales to win this one.

[nobbled]

Guns - you were the 666th responder! Satan!

[GunsGerms]

Guns - you were the 666th responder! Satan!

Better to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven.

[100%beefy]

Farrell poised to return, Lawes on the mend
England ready to pick Launchbury and Parling

All on the mend then, England rapidly approaching full strength for Saturday.

"He blew with His winds, and they were scattered."
Inscription on a medal after England defeated the Spanish Armada.

Stop being such a historical quotes dullard Duty.

"England? we kicked their asses." After the Battle of the Millennium, March 16th 2013

[yappysnap]

Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land hear the battle cry
Nothing else can be heard in the cold Cardiff sky
Good pass, fine kick, bring him to the ground
Loudly shout the English fans, while their players astound
Another score is what we need to seal the Welsh demise
Need to get just one more to make the crowd rise
Done it, there it is, a score that can’t be caught

And then the referee blows up to give the teams a break
Rest and physio is now what’s needed for those limbs that ache
England 20 Wales 6, is the first half score

Waaales, Waaales the second half cry booms
All the English sing Swing Low as their team can't lose
Now the hour has cometh, for the young Halfpenny
Keep it calm, keep your cool, just keep kicking penalties
England has no worries the ball is with our Farrel
Run pass, swerve, dive, there’s Cuthbert’s decisive score
Suddenly things look different to the games before

Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land the crowd chant to no avail
Not today, not this year, a clear 8 point win for Wales
Done it again this year and England's chariot up for Sale.

"Where on earth are you from?
We're from England
Where you come from
Do you put the kettle on?
Kick it
Nah Nah Nah
Nah Nah Nah
Nah Nah Nah
Bonjour
Nah Nah Nah
Monsieur
Nah Nah Nah
Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah
Nah Nah Nah
We're England
We're gonna score one (or 3+ tries) more than you
England!
Can I introduce you please
To a lump of Cheddar Cheese
Knit one, Pearl one
Drop one, Curl one
Kick it
Nah Nah Nah
Nah Nah Nah
Nah Nah Nah
Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah
We're England
We're gonna score one (or 3+ tries) more than you
England!
Me and me Mum and me Dad and me Gran
We're off to Waterloo
Me and me Mum and me Dad and me Gran
And a bucket of Vindaloo
Bucket!
Vindaloo
Vindaloo
Vindaloo
Vindaloo
Vindaloo Nah Nah
And we all like Vindaloo
We're England
We're gonna score one (or 3+ tries) more than you
England!
Nah Nah Nah
Vindaloo
Nah Nah Nah
Vindaloo
Nah Nah Nah
Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah
Nah Nah Nah
Vindaloo
Nah Nah Nah
And we all like Vindaloo
We're England
We're gonna score one (or 3+ tries) more than you
England!"
Fat Les upon reading that England will face Wales in the 6N's decider this week

[Duty281]

Spoiler:

England's chosen 15 has been named. Back come Marler, Croft, Youngs and Farrell. 80 minutes from glory lads, 80 minutes from that Grand Slam!

"We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire. Neither the sudden shock of battle, nor the long-drawn trials of vigilance and exertion will wear us down. Give us the tools, and we will finish the job."
Winston Churchill

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I don't think you should be using Churchill's wartime speechees, he was speaking the whole of the UK then, not just England.

[100%beefy]

Spoiler:

England's chosen 15 has been named. Back come Marler, Croft, Youngs and Farrell. 80 minutes from glory lads, 80 minutes from that Grand Slam!

"We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire. Neither the sudden shock of battle, nor the long-drawn trials of vigilance and exertion will wear us down. Give us the tools, and we will finish the job."
Winston Churchill

"Talking of tools..... if we continue reading this jingoistic drivel from Duty we may choke on our cigars and brandy!" Winston, the War Years.

[gregortree]

Yes, we will restore the old world order a la 90's



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21771984

[ScarletSpiderman]

Eng-er-land .....

"....Me and me Mum and me Dad and me Gran
We're off to Waterloo
Me and me Mum and me Dad and me Gran
And a bucket of Vindaloo
.....
Fat Les upon reading that England will face Wales in the 6N's decider this week

You know Fat Les, or Keith Allen, is a welshman? He wrote an absolute joke of a song, and the English wenby ball bunch ate it up, with him laughing his head off at them every time he heard it.

[mystiroakey]

The blur bassest wrote the music mate. And he is english as it comes.

BTW Keith Allen is an England fan. He loves it , and I am sure he fills with pride every time its sung.. I remeber him saying fly your flags in pride a few years ago(In the face of the politic correctness that it shouldnt be done!!) with the st georges cross drapped around him.. Good lad is Keith...

[ScarletSpiderman]

The blur bassest wrote the music mate. And he is english as it comes.

BTW Keith Allen is an England fan. He loves it , and I am sure he fills with pride every time its sung.. I remeber him saying fly your flags in pride a few years ago(In the face of the politic correctness that it shouldnt be done!!) with the st georges cross drapped around him.. Good lad is Keith...

I would say unaguably welsh mate (watch it all the way and you'll agree)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0-gP7e92Do

[mystiroakey]

Yeah I love twin town.,.

I am going to watch it again. I forget he was in it

[Duty281]

The day before England's destiny:

Why the Welsh want to humiliate England (jealously I suspect)
Unknown Territory for England
Wales want a bloodbath (Savages!)
Pressure on England
All Blacks Triumph to Inspire England
World Cup Benchmark for England (yes Wales, we have bigger aspirations than you)
Lancaster: We can rule the World
England relish battle
Roof to be closed (good decision)
Five Reasons why England will beat Wales

This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England!
William Shakespeare

[RubyGuby]

5 reasons - I wish you well as you couldn't do it at home last year - Good luck,

[gregortree]

"Or as a moat defensive to a house,"

Used to be until they built the 2 bridges over the Severn.
Now Wales & England are pretty much the same place.

[lostinwales]

"Or as a moat defensive to a house,"

Used to be until they built the 2 bridges over the Severn.
Now Wales & England are pretty much the same place.

Depends how far west you go.

[gregortree]

"Or as a moat defensive to a house,"

Used to be until they built the 2 bridges over the Severn.
Now Wales & England are pretty much the same place.

Depends how far west you go.

you must be 'Lost' then

[Duty281]

Technically speaking, Wales has been a part of England since the mid 16th century. Just saying.

[gregortree]

Technically speaking, Wales has been a part of England since the mid 16th century. Just saying.

mainly in cricket though

[lostinwales]

"Or as a moat defensive to a house,"

Used to be until they built the 2 bridges over the Severn.
Now Wales & England are pretty much the same place.

Depends how far west you go.

you must be 'Lost' then

Not anymore

(I moved east and north a bit)

[Portnoy's Complaint]

Come closer now.
...

Only you can hear and see, behind the eyes of the sleepers, the movements and countries and mazes and colours and dismays and rainbows and tunes and wishes and flight and fall and despairs and big seas of their dreams.

From where you are, you can hear their dreams.

DT (Under Milk Wood)

Beautiful.

[mystiroakey]

Under 24 hours till kick off!

ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

[gregortree]

Come closer now.
...

Only you can hear and see, behind the eyes of the sleepers, the movements and countries and mazes and colours and dismays and rainbows and tunes and wishes and flight and fall and despairs and big seas of their dreams.

From where you are, you can hear their dreams.

DT (Under Milk Wood)

Beautiful.

+1

[Duty281]

Last post on here before the game.

England's Six Nations Honours

Champions - 2000, 2001, 2003, 2011, 2013?
Grand Slam - 2003, 2013?
Triple Crown - 2002, 2003, 2013?

"Ask any man what nationality he would prefer to be, and ninety nine out of a hundred will tell you that they would prefer to be Englishmen".
Cecil John Rhodes

[RuggerBoy]

Aye Duty, if you ask 99 people in Dagenham High Street

[AlastairW]

Come on England! Lets get the job done!

[2ndtimeround]

Thought this might of been deleted by now!!!!!!!!!!!

[rainbow-warrior]

Hope no T shirts were printed hahahahaha

[Josiah Maiestas]

Least we didn't lose to Ireland.

[Artful_Dodger]

Last post on here before the game.

England's Six Nations Honours

Champions - 2000, 2001, 2003, 2011, 2013?
Grand Slam - 2003, 2013?
Triple Crown - 2002, 2003, 2013?

"Ask any man what nationality he would prefer to be, and ninety nine out of a hundred will tell you that they would prefer to be Englishmen".
Cecil John Rhodes

Yeh inspiring stuff Duty - look forward to your break down of the Wales game.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Don't take this malarkey from them Duty, get back here and sort em out!

[rainbow-warrior]

Pssssssssssssst anyone seen jimpy hahahaha

[tatterd]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SORRY I KNOW IT'S CHILDISH BUT I'VE WANTED TO DO THAT EVER SINCE THIS STUPID THREAD WAS CREATED!! BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR DUTY!!!

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